Confusion over Walesa’s ties to Euro-sceptic Libertas party

As a member of the think group, the EU Wise Men, I feel it is my responsibility to speak with everyone

(2009-05-15) Lech Walesa found himself the subject of vigorous media attention over his links with the controversial pan-European Libertas party, which runs a distinctly anti-EU agenda.

Lech Walesa found himself the subject of vigorous media attention over his links with the controversial pan-European Libertas party, which runs a distinctly anti-EU agenda.

The former president and Nobel peace prize winner said that he would speak at a Libertas meeting in Madrid: the second time in a matter of weeks that Mr Walesa had lent his considerable name to the party headed by Irishman Declan Ganley.

With elections for the European parliament just weeks away this immediately caused consternation in Poland’s widespread pro-EU ranks. Accusations flew around that despite the Solidarity hero pledging his support for the governing party, Civic Platform, in the elections he has secretly gone over to Libertas.

This led to hasty denials from Mr Walesa, who is also one Europe’s so-called “wise men” charged with discussing the EU’s future.

“Now they are attacking me for everything – that I sold out, that I have betrayed [Poland], but it’s not like that,” he said. “As a member of the think group, the EU Wise Men, I feel it is my responsibility to speak with everyone, and that Europe needs critiques and control. If he weren’t avoiding me, I would even meet with Satan just to tell him that God exists.”

But later, and causing confusion as to his true motives, he admitted that he thought Libertas has role to play in European politics, saying that “Declan Ganley and Libertas have the potential to change Europe for the better”, while adding voters should “heed the party’s message”.

Then came the issue of money. Mr Walesa also attributed his new-found fondness for Libertas to the fact that he was getting a whopping amount of cash for speaking: about EUR 100,000 per appearance, according to some estimates. He needed the money, he explained, because his official pension was “rather modest”.

This, however, won him friends in the government. It has looked on aghast as Poland’s most famous son courts a party that opposes the Lisbon Treaty, despite the agreement forming a central tenet of Warsaw’s European policy.

But whatever the reasons behind Mr Walesa’s Libertas appearances few dispute that his reputation among Poles has suffered. With accusations of money grabbing on one side and political betrayal on the other, the Walesa name looks set for a rubbishing that it will take some time to recover from.

Confusion over Walesa’s ties to Euro-sceptic Libertas party

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